MacDiarmid, Hugh, 1892-1978

Biographical notes:

C. M. (Christopher Murray) Grieve [Hugh McDiarmid, 1892-1978] was a Scottish poet, writer, and cultural activist. Politically, he was both a nationalist, helping found the National Party of Scotland in 1928, and a communist. During the 1930's, he was expelled from each group for his membership in the other. His nationalist leanings were, for a time, characterized by pre-Reformation Catholic Scotland "as a model of social, spiritual, and national coherence." (Roderick Watson, ODNB). Grieve founded a series of periodicals: the Scottish Chapbook fourteen issues beginning in 1922; the weekly Scottish Nation, thirty-four issues beginning in 1923; and the monthly Northern Review four issues in 1924. These periodicals "set about the definition of a literary and cultural 'renaissance' in Scottish affairs." (Watson, ODNB). Grieve moved toward the use of Scots as an exploration of the vernacular, a move reflected in his adoption of the pseudonym Hugh M'Diarmid.

Christopher Murray Grieve (1892-1978), the Scots poet and prose writer, who used the pseudonym Hugh MacDiarmid. He wrote his poem A drunk man looks at the thistle in 1926. For fuller details of his life and achievements see the Dictionary of National Biography .

From the guide to the Unique autograph manuscript of, A drunk man looks at the thistle, by Hugh MacDiarmid, together with other literary papers and some letters, ca. 1925-1960, (Leeds University Library)

Christopher Murray Grieve, 1892-1978, Scottish writer best known for English and Scots poetry written under the pen name Hugh MacDiarmid.

From the description of Letter, [19]28 Nov. 22, Montrose, to Miss Archibald, Scottish Secretariat. (Ohio State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 14915285